18th Annual PetsMart Wiener Dog Derby is Today!

Dachshund lovers and their lovable companions will gather in Soulard Market Park in St Louis today for the 18th annual PetsMart Wiener Dog Derby.  There will be a tournament brackets, medals for the winners, and St Louis radio talent will be calling the race.

Registration begins at 10 am at the park; cost is $10 to register your Dachshund.  The first heat takes place at 2pm.  Dachshund dogs race in three divisions bases on age:  Cocktail Wienies, Ballpark Franks, and Hot dogs.  The finals are followed by the trophy presentation ceremony in the Wiener's Circle.  

Free to watch, the Wiener Dog Derby is just one event that's part of the Historic St Louis Missouri Soulard neighborhood annual Mardi Gras.

One of the Dachshund dogs racing today is Gunner, the little brother of Roscoe P Coltrane.  Last year Roscoe crossed the starting line, did a u-turn and went back to the beginning.  Roscoe passed away in January 2012 and owner, Jacki, is hoping Gunner will cross the finish line for Roscoe.

Soulard's Mardi Gras also includes the Pet Parade and it's one of world's largest.  Check out the dogs in costume and have a look at the race:

For more information about the Mardi Gras in Soulard events, visit their website www.mardigrasinc.com

Westminster Dog Show 2012 Welcomes 6 New Dog Breeds

The 2012 Westminster Dog show is February 13 and 14 at Madison Square Garden.  This year they welcome six new dog breeds to this competition which is in it's 136th year and includes 179 other dog breeds.

• The American English coonhound - bred from Virginia hounds which were descended from English foxhounds.
• The Cesky terrier = a short-legged hunting dog
• The Entlebucher mountain dog - the smallest of the four dog breeds native to Switzerland.
• The Finnish lapphund - reindeer-hearding dogs from northern Scandinavia
• The Norwegian Lundehund - the six-toed "puffin" dog of Norway
• The Xoloitzcuintli - formerly known as the Mexican hairless and the national dog of Mexico.

New MACH Agility Dog Lover Jewelry at For Love of a Dog

Thanks to customer requests, For Love of a Dog Jewelry & Gifts now offers jewelry to celebrate your dog's achievements in agility events.  

Show off your bragging rights with the Master of Agility Championship handmade bracelet shown to the left.  White jade gemstone beads and super cute three dimensional white dog bone beads are hand wire wrapped with silver jeweler's wire.  The focal is a hand stamped sterling silver circular disc with MACH, accented with a sweet silver star dangle.  This dog lover bracelet is adjustable in size with an extender chain decorated with a silver dog bone and heart.

If white isn't your color, you may like this very similar MACH dog lover bracelet shown below in jasper gemstone beads with a black onyx star. 

Love agility, but no championships yet?  Or perhaps competition isn't your thing.  Check out this beautiful dog lover bracelet simply celebrating agility.  Chunky bracelet features fat white jade and a hand stamped focal.

Does your Australian Cattle Dog or Australian Shepherd compete in agility?  Fetch this handmade copper ankle bracelet with hand stamped solid copper bar:  AUSSIE AGILITY.  A great way to celebrate your dog's efforts, plus you can benefit from the healing properties of copper.

Fetch more dog lover jewelry from For Love of a Dog.  We offer dog breed jewelry in over 75 dog breeds, mutt and mixed breed dog lover jewelry, and even dog rescue jewelry.  Enjoy fast, free shipping in gift box packaging from folks who love dogs and hand craft these items right here in America.

2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals

Mark your calendar!  Set that DVR!  The 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals will be televised on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 4:00 ET on NBC.

Watch dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes from around the world compete in Olympic style events like hurdle racing, Frisbee catching.  Be sure to watch for Vhoebe, a Belgian Malinois from San Diego, California.  Vhoebe breaks a world record with a dock-diving leap of 31 feet, 8 inches!

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Pole Weaving

Enjoy watching Dinah 30 weave up and back at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge finals on October 1, 2011 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO.

Labrador Life Line Labour of Love Auction Begins Today

Labrador Life Line's Labour of Love auction begins today, Friday,October 7 at 5pm and tuns through October 21. 

They have some great donated items for you, your dogs, and your home. 

  Categories of auction items include:

• For the Dog (Loving) House
• Don't Shred This Paper! (books, calendars)
• Dog Hair Collectors (clothes)
• People Pleasers (stuff for humans)
• For Your Heart Dog
• Mid-Auction Madness
• Flea Market (odds and ends)

Simply put, Labrador Life Line was created to help owners or rescuers of Labrador Retriever dogs who are in need of financial assistance for medical care, supplies, and transport to foster and permanent homes.   Their annual Labour of Love Auction is a great place to pick up some barking good gift items for those dog lovers on your holiday shopping list AND support a good cause.

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2011 Finals Speed & Catch

Check out the newest athletic dog competition created by Purina, to display incredible speed and catching ability.  Demonstrated at the 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge held September 30 and October 1 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO.  Shown in this video are Karolina and Java demonstrating Speed & Catch.

Your Invitation to the Biggest Midwest Dog Festival: Bark in the Park 2011

Bark in the Park 2011!  Bring your dog for a day of fun that helps animals in need.  Billed as the largest dog festival in the Midwest, Bark in the Park has events scheduled for everyone! 

Tomorrow is National Pit Bull Awareness Day

National Pit Bull Awareness Day is a day to showcase the affectionate bully dog breeds.   Please be aware that "pitbull" is not a breed of dog. It is a term the public uses to describe a canine with certain traits resembling a American Pitbull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, or any other bully dog breed.

To anyone who shares their life with a "pit bull," the need for a national day of awareness for these misunderstood dogs is clear. Constant negative media attention and sensationalized hype that surrounds pit bulls has the breed in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The media and public have stereotyped and judged an entire group of dogs, as well as their owners, based on the actions of a few.

National Pit Bull Awareness Day was established as a day to educate and foster positive communications and experiences in the communities in which we and our dogs live. It is a day to focus on these incredible dogs and their devoted, responsible owners. A day to change perceptions and stereotypes.


Visit Bless the Bullies, founders of National Pit Bull Awareness Day for more information on scheduled events.
 
If you can not make it to an event please keep in mind it is National Pit Bull Awareness day and this beloved dog breed needs our help. Donate money, leashes or collars, food or treats, or just your time if at all possible to a rescue. When a city hall meeting has the bully topic up for discussion go to the meeting and make your voice for bully dogs heard. 

Historic Missouri Puppy Mill Legislation Effort Kicks Off Today

Today marks an historical event for dog lovers in Missouri.  The Vote YES on Prop B campaign will formally kick off the week of September 12, 2010, with events across the show me state.  Learn what you can do to ensure passage of this important legislation by attending one of these events.  This ballot initiative will dramatically improve the care of dogs in commercial breeding operations and will crack down on inhumane puppy mills.


The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (MAAL) has a new Executive Director, Bob Baker.  He's been investigating Missouri puppy mills for over 30 years.  He'll be a guest speaker, as well as representatives from the Humane Society of Missouri, the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA.

Monday, September 13 in Columbia, MO
Cate Berlin, 220 N 10th St
6 - 8 pm

Tuesday, September 14 in St Louis, MO
Humane Society of Missouri,  1201 Macklind Ave
6 - 8 pm


Wednesday, September 15 in Kansas City, MO
Brush Creek Community Center, 3801 Emanuel Cleaver Blvd
6 - 8 pm

Thursday, September 16 in Springfield, MO
Kings Way United Methodist Church, 2401 South Lone Pine Ave
6 - 8pm

If you have any questions about these events, contact the Alliance at mail@maal.org or 1.877.444.6225

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in St Petersburg FL

The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge is coming to St. Petersburg, Florida on April 16-17, down at Spa Beach Park. With a variety of canine competitions on the waterfront, it’s an exciting local event for residents and visitors alike! Another cool reason to attend is that the 35th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival is also a part of the excitement in the park, kicking off on Saturday, April 17.

Dogs, owners and pet enthusiasts will journey to Spa Beach Park in St. Petersburg to compete in and watch the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. This one-of-a-kind canine competition showcases the world’s most athletic dogs and their trainers. Events include agility, flying disc, Jack Russell hurdle races, head-to-head 60-weave pole and the crowd favorite, dog diving.

All events are free and open to the public. For more info visit www.purina.com.

Event Schedule Friday, April 16
9:00 AM Swim Race Registration
9:30 AM Swim Race Exhibition
10:00 AM Competitor Registration & Head Shots
11:00 PM Competitor Meeting and Lunch
12:00 PM Incredible Agility Practice
12:45 PM Incredible Diving Dog Practice
1:15 PM Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing Practice
2:00 PM Incredible 30-Weave Pole Practice
2:00 PM Qualifying Sign-Up and Registration
2:45 PM Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc Practice
3:15 PM Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc Qualifying
3:30 PM Incredible Diving Dog Qualifying

Event Schedule Saturday, April 17
11:00 AM Agility Course Inspection
11:20 AM Agility Forerunners
11:25 AM National Anthem
11:30 AM Incredible Agility - Large & Small
12:30 PM Incredible Diving Dog Competition
1:15 PM Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing
2:00 PM Incredible Head-to-Head 30-Weave Pole Racing
2:45 PM Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc

Howl'oween HayDay

Howl'oween HayDay

October 24, 2009 10:00am to 2:00pm
Admission: Register for parade and as a vendor by contacting John Aust
Benefiting: Bones4dogs
Where: Platte County Community Center South 8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO

This is a dog halloween costume contest and parade. There will be vendor booths and tables available for a small donation fee and a small registration fee for wagon floats and walking floats. To preregister contact John Aust at 816.560.0987 or email john_aust@hotmail.com.

Looking for more fun dog events? Check out the For Love of a Dog calendar of Pet Events!

Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals

Mark your calendars for the
Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals!
October 3, 2009 11:00am to 3:00pm
Admission: FREE
Location: Purina Farms 200 Checkerboard Drive, Gray Summit, MO

Dogs, owners and pet enthusiasts will be at Purina Farms to compete in and watch the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals. This one-of-a-kind canine competition showcases the world's most athletic dogs and their trainers.

Events include agility, flying disc, Jack Russell hurdle races, head-to-head 60-weave pole and the crowd favorite's - dog diving. The event is free for spectators. The field for the National Finals was set through two regional events (San Diego and Indianapolis), but local dogs will have a chance to compete with the best canine athletes in the country by way of an open Dog Diving qualifier on Friday afternoon. Trainers interested in qualifing their dogs for the National Finals on Saturday should arrive for the open qualifier by 3:15 pm on Friday, October 2. The finals begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 3. For more info visit www.purina.com.

Looking for more dog related events? Check out the For Love of a Dog calendar of Pet Events!

Missouri Dog Events

It's another rainy day here. Jeffie is watching bunnies munching grass. I admit, sometimes he gets me excited about them, too. But, really, bunnies have to eat, right? Mostly I'm taking little naps and thinking about things to come when the sun shines again.

There are some fun things coming up for dog lovers here in Missouri. I thought I'd let you know about them before my eyelids get heavy again.

June 13 (that's a Saturday) there's a Bark in The Park in Springfield from 8 am until noon at Sequiota Park (3500 S Lone Pine)

June 14 (that's a Sunday) there's a Dog N Jog in Kansas City from 6:30 am until 10:30 am at the Country Club Plaza

Well, my tummy is full... the rain has a certain rhythum, and my eyelids are soooooo heavy....

Woof! woof!
Tucker